Ver. 88.-Human responsiveness. This word of Christ mfly be taken with thn.t ~ther on the ~ame s~bjoct, which none of the evangelists recorded, but which we could. 111 ha Ye ~pared," It 1s more bh·ssed to give than to rcceivo." \Ve may consider- !. WrrAT WE HAYE TO GIVE. We have much that we can draw from if we desire to b<'ncfit and to bless our fell",v-men. I. Our possessions-our money, our time, our books, our clothes, etc. 2. Onrsclves-our thought, our affection, our sympathy, II. Wao SHOULD DE O1:R RECIPIEXTS: These should bo: 1. Our kindred according to the flesh. 2. Our kmJred accurdmg to the spirit-our follow-Christians, our fel!ow-mem hers. 3. Our neighbours, those who, as the nearest and most within reach should recei,·e our kind thoughtfulness. 4. The children of want, of sorrow of spirit~al de,tit~tion, _both at home and _abroad. There is :i. sense, and that a t;uly Chr1sl1an one, m which those who are m the saddest need and in the darkest error aye, and even in the most deplorable iniquity, have the greatest claim on our pity and our help. lll. WHAT MAY BB OUB INCE1'"TIVES. 1. That giving is that act which is most emphatically Divine. God lives to give-to bestow life, and health, and beauty, and joy on his creatures. Christ Jesus came to give himself for man. 2. 'l'hat it is truly a1<gdie. 3. That it is the heroic thing to do. Men have been true heroes in propor- tion as they ha\·e spent themselves and their powers on behalf of their kind. 4. That it is most elevating in its influence on ourselves and, whe.i wisely directed, on those for whom it is expendL·d. IV. WHAT WTLL BE oUB RECOMPENSE, 1. The Divine approval. "For God loveth a cheerful giver." 2. The unconscious and unc:i.lculated reaction that will be received. by ourselves, enlarging our heart and lifting us toward the level of the supreme Giver. 3. The response we shall receive from those we serve. This is the recompense which is promised in the text. "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure . , , shall men give into your bosom." There is far too much ingratitude in this world; more, perhaps, than we are willing to believe, until sad experience has convinced us. Nevertheless, there is also a very large measure of human responsiveness on which we may salely reckon. If we give to others, men will give to us; if we love them, they will love us. Do not even the publicans so? (Matt. v. 46). Even those whose hearts have been unchanged by the truth and grace of Christ will respond to genuine kind- ness. Patronage they will recognize and resent ; officialism they will distinguish and may endure. But the help which comes straight from the heart they will appreciate, and to him who gives it they will give a free and gladdening response. To the really generous man, as distinguished from the formal " benefactor" or the professional philanthropist, there will flow a stream of warm-hearted gratitude and affection which "ill far more than repay all the time and treasure, and even all the sympathy and service, that have been expencled. 'l'he generous· giver will be the recipient of (1) the regard, (2) the gratitude, (3) the affection, and, (4) when it may be needed, the substantial ki'Tldnl!$s of those whom he has tried to serve, and of many others outside that circle. And to these may be added that which, if its worth be less calculable, yet may be even more valuable and more aoceptable than any or all of these-the prayer, ef the good. Selfishness often misses its own poor mark, and it always fails to bless its author with an inward blessing; but beneficence is always blessed. God rains down his large benedictions from above, and below men offer their glad and free contribution. "Give and it shall be given unto you . . . for with the same measure that ye mete witha!'it shall be measured to you again."--C.
Vere. 39, 40.-<JhriBtian teachi'Tlg. We may learn from thia parable some truths of the greatest consequence to all those who are teachers of religion ; and this will include not only all Christian pastors and evangelists, but all those who are training the young, whether at school or at home. cm. VJ. 1-49.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BT. LUKE. lfil